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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons
8.11.58.11.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.11.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Indrasince 8.11.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सोऽहं दुर्मायिनस्तेऽद्य वज्रेण शतपर्वणा ।

शिरो हरिष्ये मन्दात्मन्घटस्व ज्ञातिभि: सह ॥ ६ ॥

so ’haṁ durmāyinas te ’dya

vajreṇa śata-parvaṇā

śiro hariṣye mandātman

ghaṭasva jñātibhiḥ saha

Translation

Today, with my thunderbolt, which has hundreds of sharp edges, I, the same powerful person, shall sever your head from your body. Although you can produce so much jugglery through illusion, you are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge. Now, try to exist on this battlefield with your relatives and friends.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Illusory Skill Is Not Sound Knowledge

  1. 1

    Indra threatened to sever Bali Mahārāja’s head with his thunderbolt, which had hundreds of sharp edges.

  2. 2

    Although Bali Mahārāja could produce much jugglery through illusion, Indra described him as having a poor fund of knowledge.

  3. 3

    Indra challenged him to survive on the battlefield along with his relatives and friends.

How it feels

Danger and ambition → Divine rescue and surprise. Cooperation, rivalry and revelation alternate rapidly.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 8: Churning the ocean, poison and nectar. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: King Indra Annihilates the Demons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Indra released his thunderbolt against Bali, and when Bali fell, his friend Jambhāsura attacked Indra, who then cut off Jambhāsura’s head with his thunderbolt. When Nārada Muni learned that Jambhāsura had been killed, he informed Jambhāsura’s relatives Namuci, Bala and Pāka, who then went to the battlefield and attacked the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥI am the same powerful person
  2. ahamI
  3. durmāyinaḥof you, who can perform so much jugglery with illusions
  4. teof you
  5. adyatoday
  6. vajreṇaby the thunderbolt
  7. śata-parvaṇāwhich has hundreds of sharp edges
  8. śiraḥthe head
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.11

    In this verse: “illusion”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.11

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.11

    In this verse: “knowledge”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I sometimes mistake an impressive display of skill for genuine knowledge?

Practice

When something impresses you today, pause to distinguish outward skill from sound understanding.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIllusory Skill Is Not Sound KnowledgeThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.11.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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